The Bride Widow
Chapter 116: Ch 116: How Unlucky - Part 1

Chapter 116: Ch 116: How Unlucky - Part 1

Anabella woke up early the next morning, determined to shake off the events of the previous day. She had chosen this new life away from her past, and she wasn’t going to let Daniel Ross or anyone connected to him drag her back into that world.

She got ready quickly, tying her hair into a neat braid before slipping into her uniform: a simple apron over a soft, cream-colored blouse and dark trousers.

Her bakery job was her safe space—a place far removed from her complicated past. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm pastries always soothed her, grounding her in the present.

When she arrived at the bakery, the early morning buzz was already in full swing. Customers lined up at the counter, chatting excitedly while the smell of cinnamon rolls and croissants filled the air.

Anabella pushed through the back entrance and greeted her teacher, Mr. Callum, a middle-aged beta with kind eyes and a patient smile. He was the one assigned to look after her and teach her.

"Morning, Anabella,"

She was greeted cheerfully, and a tray of dough was handed to her to shape.

"Good morning."

Anabella replied, already rolling up her sleeves. It was not a good day for her, but she did not want to advertise her sadness to other people.

For the next hour, they worked in comfortable silence, kneading, shaping, and baking. The rhythm of work was soothing, and Anabella allowed herself to relax. This was her world now—a world where nothing from her past could touch her.

But peace never lasted long.

"Did you hear about Daniel Ross?"

Mr. Callum asked casually as he sprinkled flour on the work surface.

The name hit her like a slap. Her fingers froze mid-motion, gripping the dough tightly. She forced herself to keep her expression neutral. Anabella knew that her teacher liked to gossip, but she had not expected to be asked something like this.

"Daniel Ross? Can’t say I have. Who’s that? A celebrity people are raving about these days?"

Anabella asked with a clueless tone. She knew who this man was talking about. But just because she knew did not mean she had to advertise it to the world.

Mr. Callum’s eyes widened in surprise.

"You don’t know? He’s one of the most famous alphas around! He owns half the businesses in the city. There’s been a huge buzz about him lately."

Anabella shrugged, shaping the dough with more force than necessary.

"I’m not really into gossip."

she said lightly.

"Well,"there’s a rumor that he got mated recently. No one knows who the omega is, though. It’s all very mysterious."

Mr. Callum continued, oblivious to her discomfort, Anabella’s chest tightened, the words twisting like a knife in her heart.

Of course, even here, in her attempt to build a new life, she couldn’t escape Daniel’s shadow. He was everywhere—his name, his actions, his mistakes. She could not escape his influence, even here.

"That’s... interesting, I guess,"

she muttered, keeping her tone detached.

Mr. Callum studied her curiously but didn’t press further. He leaned against the counter, his expression softening.

"You know,I’ve always thought the idea of being mated was kind of sweet. It’s the kind of thing I always dreamed of. "

Her teacher said quietly, almost with a wistful look on his face.

Anabella looked up, genuinely surprised. She had not expected this from her teacher, much less a beta and someone who looked like they could kill you with their bare hands.

"Sweet?"

she repeated, confused.

He nodded, a wistful smile tugging at his lips.

"Betas like me... we don’t get soul bonds or fated mates. We just fall in love the regular way, if we’re lucky. But I always thought having someone destined just for you sounded... magical."

His voice carried a hint of longing that made Anabella’s chest ache. She hated how genuine he sounded, how much he clearly wished for something she had always seen as a burden.

"It’s not as perfect as you think,"

Anabella said sharply, surprising even herself. She had never been this spark when speaking before.

Mr. Callum blinked, taken aback by her tone.

"Sorry,I just... I think being mated can be a blessing for the people involved, sure. But for everyone else..."

Anabella added quickly. She did not even have any idea why she said what she did. She just knew that she wanted to let her words be heard.

She paused, her fingers trembling slightly as she shaped the dough.

"For everyone else, it’s a curse. Those who are mated live happily, but if the mated person is already in a relationship or committed, it can screw over the other person a lot."

Her words hung heavily in the air, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

"I guess I never thought about it that way,"

Mr. Callum said softly, his brow furrowing.

Anabella offered a weak smile, hoping he wouldn’t ask more. The last thing she wanted was to explain the messy reality of being tied to someone like Daniel Ross.

"It’s just... complicated."

Anabella said finally.

Mr. Callum nodded thoughtfully, sensing that this was a subject she didn’t want to linger on.

"Life usually is. But hey, at least we have bread to keep us grounded, right?"

He agreed with a small chuckle, lightening the mood.

Anabella let out a genuine laugh, relieved by the change in subject.

"Yeah, Bread never lets you down."

she said, rolling another piece of dough. But even though she was distracting herself, she could focus on her task any longer. She felt grounded and her heart ached with

They returned to their work, the earlier tension easing as the familiar rhythm of baking took over once again. But even as she lost herself in kneading and shaping, Daniel’s name still echoed in the back of her mind, refusing to be forgotten.

No matter how far she ran, her past always found a way to follow her. How could she be so unlucky as to have this happen to her?